Several of Health Coalition Aotearoa’s (HCA) evidence-based prevention priorities received support from political parties at a packed forum at Parliament on 25 August, with Labour announcing it would restore smokefree generation policies if elected.
Health spokespeople from ACT, the Green Party, Labour and Te Pāti Māori took part in the event, hosted by HCA, the University of Otago and the Public Health Communication Centre.
“We will bring back the smokefree generation policy, so that future generations are protected from the harms of tobacco,” Labour’s Ayesha Verrall said.
“We have also listened to the experts in this group and across the sector,” Verrall said.
“Labour will introduce a common licensing regime for tobacco and vaping products with strong conditions and proper oversight.”
However, Verrall said Labour would not pursue denicotinisation because “very stringent tobacco controls in Australia have coincided with growth in an illicit market”.
The discussion centred on HCA’s Prevention Brief 2026,, which outlines evidence-based policy priorities to reduce harm from tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food while easing pressure on the health system.
“HCA was pleased to see some of its policy priorities picked up in policies presented at the political panel,” said HCA co-chair Professor Boyd Swinburn after the event.
“However, we were disappointed that National and New Zealand First chose not to attend and tell voters where they stand. We had hoped for a cross-party discussion.”
Little appetite to follow UK junk-food advertising restrictions
There was limited support among panellists for measures modelled on the UK, including restrictions on junk-food advertising after 8.30pm and online advertising targeted at children, as well as policies encouraging manufacturers to reduce sugar in drinks.
Ngarewa-Packer said unhealthy food choices were influenced by affordability and by the appeal of marketing.
“It is also about drowning out the noise of the funkiness of how cool vape shops look and how junk food is appealing.”
Green Party spokesperson Hūhana Lyndon said the party was interested in investigating a sugar levy, but was more focused on expanding free dental services.
No sugary drinks tax from Labour
MC and senior RNZ journalist Corin Dann asked Verrall whether Labour would support a sugary drinks tax and restrictions on junk-food marketing.
Verrall said Labour supported a targeted “simple capital gains tax” and no other taxes.
“No to a sugary drinks tax.”
“On marketing, people in this group will know that I was grateful for the opportunity to discuss with the experts that Health Coalition Aotearoa brings together on regulation of food marketing. But ultimately, my conclusion from that is not to take it forward in our policy platform for this election.”
Dann also asked Verrall about a nutrition survey. She said she would be open to considering one if Labour were in government, but had previously found it to be “incredibly expensive”, so the cost would need to be reduced.
Broad support for lobbying reform
Despite policy differences, there was broad agreement on HCA’s campaign to “level the playing field” by strengthening transparency and accountability around lobbying.
ACT’s Todd Stephenson said he “wasn’t opposed” to lobbying reforms, although technical details would need to be worked through.
He also offered cautious support for a licensing regime, particularly for vaping products, and for age verification requirements for alcohol home deliveries.
The Green Party and Te Pāti Māori agreed on the need for a lobbying register, a cooling-off period before former politicians could work as lobbyists, and caps on political donations.
Verrall said Labour had yet to announce its policy but supported greater transparency around meetings between lobbyists and ministers. She also noted she had a member’s bill aimed at limiting tobacco industry lobbying.
Labour supports alcohol reform
Labour was keen to focus on de-normalising the connection between alcohol and sport, Verrall said.
“When we were in government, Health New Zealand expanded its activity to make sponsorship deals with sports teams to replace their dependence on alcohol sponsorship. We would like to scale that up considerably.”
On reforming the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act, Labour supports stronger controls on alcohol access, including online sales and delivery services.
“We also support increasing excise tax and ensuring the additional funding is used for treatment services, Verrall said.
“Communities should have a stronger role in determining where alcohol outlets are located.”
Prevention Brief ‘a compass’
Green Party spokesperson Hūhana Lyndon held up a copy of the Prevention Brief as “a compass for where the country should be heading”.
“The Green Party is committed to pulling the ambulance back from the bottom of the cliff and taking that preventative, community-based approach,” Lyndon said.
“Transparency, whether it’s the OIAs, the ability to ask the right questions and get that transparency and information back into communities, and for community voice to be upheld across decision-making, these are things that the Green Party is absolutely committed to, and I really thank the Health Coalition for being clear in the asks,” Lyndon said.
Support for healthy school lunches
Labour, the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori all expressed support for restoring healthy school lunches that meet nutrition standards and allow for community providers.
Verrall noted that Labour established Ka Ora, Ka Ako and was proud to recommit to the programme.
“It is a significant investment in making sure children have access to healthy food.”
Hūhana Lyndon pointed to the Green Party’s recently announced policy supporting Ka Ora, Ka Ako in a form closer to the original programme.
“The Green Party wants to see the programme well resourced, sustainable and expanded, so that no mokopuna is left behind.”
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said her party’s health policy would be announced soon, but that it broadly supports HCA’s kaupapa, with a focus on reducing inequities and Māori self-determination, or mana motuhake.
“Māori must be empowered to lead our own solutions … Te Tiriti must shape our laws, our systems, and affect our health services,” Ngarewa-Packer said.
Te Pāti Māori supports equitable access to kai.
“We believe that no tamariki should ever go hungry at school, so we oppose the Government’s defunding of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme and support permanent funding.
“We also support restricting unhealthy kai and drink and marketing that targets children.”
Ngarewa-Packer also said Te Pāti Māori supports controlling the number of tobacco and junk-food outlets in communities, along with smokefree measures, including equitable quit-smoking and vaping services, especially for rangatahi.
ACT’s closing advice
Stephenson encouraged public health advocates to engage early with whichever parties form the next government.
“My advice is to start early in the next Parliament and look for issues where there is genuine scope for agreement and bipartisan support.”
While the parties differed on how prevention should be delivered, all agreed it should remain a priority.
Afterwards, HCA co-chair Boyd Swinburn said it was encouraging to see so many HCA policy priorities reflected in party policies. His only disappointment was the absence of National and New Zealand First, as HCA is keen to work with all political parties.
“Our focus now is to work with all parties to advance these prevention policy priorities,” said Swinburn. “We would welcome the opportunity to brief National and New Zealand First on them directly.”
